The Do’s and the Don’t's

Listed below is a number of pitfalls some people commonly fall into. To many they might seem blindingly obvious, for which we apologise unreservedly.

Your Profile

Where possible use aphotographof yourself. Profiles with photographs generate on average over 10 times as many enquiries as those that do not feature one.

Don't think you are attractive? - you will be surprised and flattered by the number of people that will disagree with you.

Your stunning figure attracts thewrong kind of attention?- try a profile shot or a facial close-up. Looks nice and arty and does not give too much away.

Think people should be attracted to you for your personality?- eventually that will be the key source of attraction, but human nature means we like to be able to picture the person we are talking to.

Men...Try to avoid pictures of bare torsos, however fit you are, and pictures of you with fish or other dead creatures. It is generally not what women want to see.

Ladies...Suggestive photos might be a bit of fun, but be prepared for the odd cheeky message. If that is OK, within limits, then have fun. If not, they are best avoided.

Smile...its welcoming.

Use up-to-date photos- if your date is expecting someone 20 years younger and several sizes smaller, it does not make for a good start to a date.

Try and be humourous- be witty but true to self. It makes profiles more fun to read and is likely to get a better level of response.

Avoid fibs - if you were not the first man to walk in space, then avoid saying so - you will be caught out eventually.

Lists- try to avoid giving a shopping list of what your ideal partner would be. You are far more likely to meet that person if you sell yourself (remember - no space walking).

Congratulations! - You've got to the date...

Present yourself as you would like to be remembered. Gentlemen, please remember your date is likely to have gone to some trouble to dress for the occasion - try and do the same.

Be punctual - remember there is fashionably late and awkwardly late! It is uncomfortable for a lady to sit in a public place alone, so it would be diplomatic for the gentleman to arrive a little early so that his date is not left feeling vulnerable.

Flatter and compliment your date on the way they look and the things they wear. People tend to go to a lot of effort on a date and a sincere compliment can go a long way.

Remember what your date has said to you and what is on their profile. Find a subject and level you both feel comfortable with so that conversation is easy. Avoid subjects that might lead to contention such a politics and religion.

Date the type of people you are attracted too and don’t play people along.

Only meet people you genuinely think you are compatible with; if you like fishing, shooting, and your date is into animal welfare, the relationship might not have a long term future.

Stay positive - It’s a numbers game and there are loads of people on Executive-Dating.co.uk, so keep searching and you are bound to find someone - its simple dating maths!

Stay Safe - Have a mobile phone and keep it charged. Tell your friends where you are going or use the Executive-Dating.co.uk SMS service. Date at first in a well known public places and never be pushed into anything you are not happy with.

HAVE FUN! - Dating is a liberating experience and Executive-Dating.co.uk offers a fantastic service for like minded individuals and will do its utmost to find you the perfect partner.

Some Don'ts...

Don'tgive away too much about yourself at the start. Revealing your inner most secrets about an obsession with Train Spotting in your first message may scare some people away!

Don'tget too drunk on the date, remember it’s not a stag night - that might be some time away.

Don'tignore your personal safety when dating.

Don'tgive out personal information like home phone numbers and addresses on a first date. Keep them until you are sure of your safety.

Where to go?

Nice bar or cosy pub for a drink (not your local).

Restaurant.

Café.

High Tea in a reasonable hotel.

Walk in the country.

Horse or bike ride.

Or use your imagination – try to impress your date, within limits - no point in meeting on the London Eye, if you suffer from vertigo - could be a memorable date for the wrong reasons.

Suggest the cinema, theatre or a concert only if you are likely to be nervous or tongue tied. The idea is to find out more about each other and while the venue maybe perfect, conversation will be impossible.

Your Safety First

The potential risks for those that use online communities can be easily overcome by undertaking straight forward and basic precautions.

Awareness of the small but potential risk to your personal information, finances and safety is key. But in truth it doesn't take a lot to minimise those risks, if not eliminate them completely. Follow these few simple checks and you'll have nothing to worry about.

Personal Safety

There's plenty of advice knocking around for when meeting up with someone you've met online, but the bottom line is that you should always stay in control. Meet in a public place, tell someone when and where you're going, and arrange to call them at a given time to confirm all is going well. If your date is worth their salt, they will completely understand and, rather than having a problem with your caution, will probably just be impressed at how well organised you are.

Your Opinion is Valued

Executive-Dating.co.uk is currently developing a SMS service which can be used by members whilst dating. Under the scheme, you would input details of where you are meeting your date, and arrange to text a code to our service operatives before agreed times. Should you fail to do so, we will make contact to check all is going well, and if necessary take further action.

The service gives you the knowledge that someone knows where you are and that you are safe. The proposed cost for this service will be in the region of £25 per annum, and will include SMS contacts for up to 50 dates - the service would be free to annual subscribers and members of 'Meet for Dinner' Clubs.

Your Opinion

First Name *

Last Name *

Profession

Age Range *

Would you use this Service?

Yes

No

Is the suggested cost reasonable?

Yes

No

Personal information

We all want to appear open and friendly when we're meeting new people, but we should also be careful to make sure we want someone to have our information before giving it out. Executive-Dating.co.uk has a wonderful Messaging system which means you don't need to give out any contact information at all until you're happy to, so don't be afraid to tell someone that you'd rather stick to the on-site system for a bit longer. If they're genuine then they won't have a problem.

Passwords

As with any login information, choose a password that you can easily remember but that would be difficult for anyone else to guess. Children's names are easy to remember but could be quite straightforward for someone who knows you to guess. Passwords such as "password", "123456" or "qwerty" are a definite no-no, as is your own name! Executive-Dating.co.uk will never send you e-mail asking for your password, so if you get anything of that nature, please forward it to us immediately.

Scammers

We have all laughed at the expense of those those who send emails representing some recently deceased African Industrialist who's executors need a neutral bank account in which to secure a large sum of money, and the offer of rich rewards for those who can help. Sadly not all scams are as blatantly stupid but a rule of thumb that will keep you safe is to treat people in much the same way online as you do in the real world. If someone you barely know asks to borrow money or asks for any sort of financial details whatsoever, then break contact immediately and report the incident without delay, using the 'Report this Profile' link on the website. You wouldn't expect someone you met in the pub last week to ask for money, and you shouldn't expect it online either.

Don't panic!

When all's said and done, the vast majority of people you meet online will be genuine people just like you who are simply looking for a date and a bit of fun. Unfortunately, it's best to plan for the worst and then allow people to prove themselves otherwise, but don't let the occasional dodgy character spoil your enjoyment. Just be aware that there is the odd one out there and exercise a little caution, as you would in any other place where you're meeting new people.